Harris Corporation

Harris Corporation
Name	Harris Corporation
Type	Public
Industry	Telecommunications, Aerospace, Defense, Information Technology
Fate	Merged with L3 Technologies in 2019 to form L3Harris Technologies
Founded	1895
Defunct	2019 (merged)
Headquarters	Melbourne, Florida; Palm Bay, Florida
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	William M. Brown (CEO of successor), Roy A. Guzzi (former CEO)
Products	Communications systems, avionics, electronic warfare, space payloads, radios, sensors
Revenue	(2018) approx. $6.9 billion
Num employees	~18,000 (2018)

Harris Corporation

Harris Corporation was an American technology company specializing in telecommunications, aerospace systems, and defense electronics. Founded in 1895, the company evolved from a regional newspaper and printing-equipment firm into a global supplier of radios, avionics, satellite payloads, and secure communications before its 2019 merger with L3 Technologies to form L3Harris Technologies. Harris served clients including the United States Department of Defense, national space agencies, and international telecommunications operators.

History

Harris traces origins to the launch of the Harris Automatic Press Company in 1895 and the later establishment of the Harris Intertype Company, which connected the firm to the printing press industry and partners such as the Chicago Tribune and regional newspapers. In the mid-20th century Harris diversified through acquisitions including electronics businesses tied to Cold War defense procurement and civil aeronautics projects with contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The company expanded into satellite communications with partnerships involving Intelsat and defense electronics programs associated with the United States Navy and United States Air Force. During the 1990s and 2000s Harris pursued growth via mergers and acquisitions, integrating firms with capabilities in radar, secure communications, and space systems. By the 2010s Harris operated through divisions serving commercial broadcasting, public safety agencies such as Federal Aviation Administration partners, and international defense customers including NATO members. In 2019 Harris merged with L3 Technologies, creating L3Harris Technologies in a deal combining comparable portfolios in avionics, tactical radios, and space systems.

Products and Services

Harris produced a portfolio spanning tactical radio systems used by armed forces, secure networking gear for agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and satellite payloads delivered to primes such as Northrop Grumman and Arianespace contractors. Its avionics line included flight-critical systems integrated on platforms by Airbus and Lockheed Martin, while its electronic warfare and radar suites were deployed on platforms associated with Naval Air Systems Command and the U.S. Army. Harris supplied broadcast transmission equipment to media groups including Nexstar Media Group and provided meteorological sensors used by agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In public safety, Harris marketed P25-compliant digital radios to municipal agencies, state police organizations, and emergency medical services. The company also offered cybersecurity solutions and mission systems for partners such as Raytheon Technologies and commercial cloud integrators working with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

Corporate Affairs and Leadership

Harris was led by executives including Roy A. Guzzi, who served as chairman and CEO during major strategic realignments, and a board that engaged with institutional investors like The Vanguard Group and BlackRock. Corporate headquarters were located in Melbourne and Palm Bay, Florida, linking the firm to regional economic development entities and aerospace clusters associated with Kennedy Space Center supply chains. Harris reported to the S&P 500 index prior to its merger and maintained governance practices aligned with Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements. The company engaged with defense procurement offices such as the Defense Acquisition University and participated in industry groups including the Aerospace Industries Association.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures

Across decades Harris executed transformative transactions, acquiring firms with expertise in communications and space payloads and divesting non-core assets. Notable moves included purchases of specialty electronics firms to bolster capabilities relevant to DARPA programs and sales of broadcast businesses to concentrate on defense and space, involving counterparties such as private equity firms and industrial buyers. The 2019 combination with L3 Technologies represented a landmark merger-of-equals consolidating portfolios in tactical radios, ISR payloads, and avionics. Earlier strategic deals connected Harris with suppliers and customers across the defense industrial base including General Dynamics subcontracting relationships and joint ventures tied to European primes like Thales and BAE Systems.

Research and Innovation

Harris maintained research centers that advanced technologies in digital signal processing, satellite payload design, and secure networking, collaborating with academic institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Florida on grants and sponsored research. The firm's laboratories contributed to innovations in phased-array antennas, software-defined radios, and microwave electronics used on spacecraft for programs with NASA and commercial satellite operators. Harris participated in government-sponsored R&D initiatives through agencies including Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and worked on standards bodies shaping protocols for public safety communications and satellite interoperability.

Legal Issues and Controversies

Harris faced legal and compliance matters typical for defense contractors, including procurement disputes with federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and contract litigation before boards like the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. The company resolved issues involving export controls and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations in settlements and compliance program enhancements. Harris was also involved in civil litigation with customers and competitors over intellectual property and product performance claims, and it navigated labor and regulatory proceedings at state agencies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Category:Defunct companies of the United States Category:Aerospace companies of the United States Category:Defense companies of the United States